john w



(No Model.)

J. W. JOHNSON,

GAR GOUPLING.

10.328,785. Patented 001;.20,1885.

mul 'l UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN W. JOHNSON, OF PENDLETON, MISSOURI.

CAR-COUPLING.

BPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 328,785, dated October20, 1885.

Application tiled July 31, 1885. Serial No. 173,172. (No model.)

To all whom t may concern.-

Be it known that I, JOHN W. JOHNSON, a citizen of the United States,residing at Pendleton, in the county of Warren and State of Missouri,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Car-Couplings; andI do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description ofthe invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which itappertains to make and use the same, reference being had to theaccompanying drawings, and to the letters and figures of referencemarked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

My invention relates to improvements in the construction and operationof car-couplings; and it consists in certain novel features hereinafterfully described, and specifically pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings hereto annexed, Figure 1 shows my improved coupling,inside elevation, in position on a car. Fig. 2 is a horizontallongitudinal section of the coupling, and Fig. 3 is a detail front viewof the operating-lever.

A designates the draw-bar, which is secured to the end of the car, asshown. The sides A A of the draw-bar are provided with openings A2 A2,through which the ends of the couplinghooks project. The top of thedrawbar is provided with an opening through which one arm of theL-shaped lever B projects downward. This L-shaped lever B is pivotedupon a plate, B', provided upon the top of the draw-bar. It is securedin such a position that its vertical arm projects downward into thedraw-bar,and its horizontal arm extends backward toward the car.

The operating hand-lever O is rigidly secured upon a shaft, O, which isjournaled in suitable supports, C2 O2, secured upon the roof of the car.The hand-lever O is secured to the shaft C near one end, and near theopposite end of the said shaft I secure a short lever, C3, the free endof which is connected to the inner end of the horizontal arm of the L-shaped lever B by a rod, 0*, as shown.

I use the ordinary spear-head link and hold it in the draw-head whencars are coupled by the coupling-hooks D D. These hooks are L-shaped,being pivoted at the junction of the arms, the shorter arms D projectingthrough the openings A2 in the sides of the draw-head, and the longerarms D2 extending forward to near the mouth of the drawhead. The shortarms D are connected to the lower end of the vertical arm of theL-shaped lever B by rods or links D3 D3. The front or outer ends of thecoupling-hooks D are made of proper shape to engage and hold thespearhead links as the same enter the draw-head in the operation of thecoupling.

Springs E E are placed between the coupling-hooks and the sides of thedraw-bar and press the coupling-hooks toward each other, thus keepingthem always in engagement with the link O when it is inserted betweenthem, and preventing the releasing of the link, except as hereinafterdescribed.

Between the two coupling-hooks I place a buffer, F, which prevents thelink being inserted too far in the draw-head in the operation ofcoupling.

Guide-pins G are secured in the sides of the draw-head, and projectinward thro slots in the coupling-hooks D. These guidepins keep the linkin the middle of the drawbar and prevent its being shoved to one or theother side, thus insuring a perfect coupling.

To couple the cars thelink is inserted in the draw-head between the twocoupling-hooks D D, and will be engaged and held by them. To uncouplethe cars the lever O is pushed downward. It will be seen that thiscauses the short lever O3 to swing upward, and this upward motion willbe transmitted directly to the lever B through the connecting-rod O, Themotion thus given to the lever B will cause it to pull on the short armsof the coupling-hooks, and they will thereby be made to swing aroundinward, and the longer arms consequently will swing apart and the linkwill be withdrawn by the other car.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secureby Letters Patent, 1s-

In a car-coupling, substantially as shown and described, thecombination, with the coupling-hooks, of a buffer placed between thehooks, and guide-pins secured in the drawhead and projected throughslots in the coupling-hooks, substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JOHN w.l JOHNSON.

Witnesses:

ANDREW ENGEL, JACOB H. KIMMEL.

IOO

